Best Todd Geist Podcasts (2025)

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Make Due: Episode 67 "Buildings Deconstructed" with special guest, Chris Naum 1:07:45

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3M ago1:07:45

1:07:45

Chris Naum (Syracuse, NY) brings over 5 decades of experience to the show as both firefighter, fire officer, architect, educator, author, and public speaker. Chris joins the show to blow the lid off building construction in the modern fire service. We discuss how the lack of deeper understanding of building construction in the modern fire service h…

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Make Due: Episode 66 "Mastering the Role of the Pump Operator" with special guest, Paul Watlington 1:39:54

5M ago1:39:54

1:39:54

Ready to elevate your Pump Operator game? Then you need to catch this episode! Chief Paul Watlington of Burlington (NC) FD is a 24-year fire service veteran, owner of Impact Fire Training, and presents regularly around the country including FDIC. In this episode Paul discusses the role of the pump operator, the importance of working driver/operator…

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Make Due: Episode 65 "Tailboard Leadership" with special guest, Ljay Geist 1:49:01

5M ago1:49:01

1:49:01

Episode 65 welcomes special guest, Ljay Geist out of Garden City (KS) FD to the show. We discuss his love for engine work, his recent work with HEN nozzles and his initial impression of the HEN nozzle in interior firefighting. The second half of the episode is a deep dive into leadership specifically from the perspective of those not in formal lead…

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Make Due: Episode 64 "Everything Saws" with special guest, Julio Ramos 1:32:44

6M ago1:32:44

1:32:44

Episode 64 welcomes special guest, Julio Ramos to the show to take a technical deep dive into common saws used in the fire service. Julio is an 18-year student of the trade currently serving as a Lieutenant on a squad company in a major metropolitan department in central Florida. He is owner/operator of Fireground and Special Operations, LLC and ha…

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Make Due: Episode 63 "Strategies, Tactics and Training" with special guest, Todd Edwards 1:21:53

6M ago1:21:53

1:21:53

Episode 63 welcomes special guest, Todd Edwards to the show to discuss suburban strategies, tactics and training. Todd brings 43 years of experience to the table. Notably, Todd faithfully served in numerous capacities over 30+ years with the Atlanta (GA) Fire Department. He is the founder and lead instructor at Fire Life Training and has been instr…

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Claris Engage 2025 40:51

7M ago40:51

40:51

Featuring: Martha Zink, Director of Experience at Proof+Geist Julie Sigfrinius, Former Senior Director of Customer Success at Claris Description: In this episode of The Context Podcast, join Martha Zink and Julie Sigfrinius as they discuss the upcoming Claris Engage 2025 conference! Get a sneak preview of all the fascinating things scheduled for th…

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Make Due: Episode 62 "Functional Health and Fitness" with Aaron Zamzow 1:28:05

7M ago1:28:05

1:28:05

Episode 62 welcomes our friend and brother, Aaron Zamzow to the show. Zam is a 20-year fire service veteran serving as a Lieutenant with the Madison (WI) Fire Department. He is head coach at Fire Rescue Fitness, has 30 years of experience as a fitness trainer, and holds a bachelor's degree in health and wellness. He hosts the Better Every Shift pod…

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Make Due: Episode 61 "Mindset and Mental Health" with special guest, Scott Hewlett 1:47:20

7M ago1:47:20

1:47:20

We're Baaaaaaack! Season 5 kicks off with a dynamite episode featuring special guest, Scott Hewlett! Scott is a 26-year fire service veteran currently serving as a Training Officer in an urban fire department in southern Ontario, Canada. Scott is also founder and host of the Multiple Calls podcast. The crew takes a hard look at mindset, personal gr…

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OData to the rescue! Web-enabling FileMaker data with Five and Ottomatic. 47:10

8M ago47:10

47:10

Featuring: Jonathan Marcus, Head of Software Development at Sureguard Dominik Keller, CEO at Co-Founder at Five Ernest Koe Todd Geist In this episode of The Context Podcast, Ernest Koe and Todd Geist are joined by Jonathan Marcus from Sureguard and Dominik Keller from Five to discuss the challenges of building user-friendly applications for non-emp…

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Make Due: Episode 60 "Step Up and Lead" with special guest, Frank Viscuso 1:55:02

8M ago1:55:02

1:55:02

Sean and Nick wrap up season 4 with special guest, Frank Viscuso. Chief Viscuso retired with the rank of Deputy Chief in New Jersey, has written numerous Fire Engineering articles, is an accomplished author of 12 books including Step Up and Lead, Common Valor and Flashpoint, was Keynote speaker at FDIC in 2022 and travels the country speaking on le…

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Make Due: Episode 59 - "Fire Nuggets Crossover Episode" 2:13:44

9M ago2:13:44

2:13:44

Nick and Sean team up with Nick Ledin and Jeff Bryant of the Fire Nuggets podcast in this EPIC crossover episode! The gang discusses training, search culture, two in/two out, what it takes to run a successful fire training event, engine operations and more.By Nick

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Updates from Claris with Ryan McCann 1:00:30

9M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

In this episode, Ryan McCann, CEO at Claris, joins us to discuss his journey stepping into the role, the organizational strategies driving growth, and the importance of customer retention in today’s competitive market. Ryan shares how Claris is navigating the transformation from a risk management mindset to a growth-oriented strategy. He dives into…

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Make Due: Episode 58 "Suburban Fire Culture" with special guest, Justyn Fraize 1:24:39

9M ago1:24:39

1:24:39

Episode 58 is coming at you fast as we welcome special guest, Justyn Fraize to the show to get his thoughts on building a strong fire culture in the suburban fire service. Justyn is a 25-year veteran of the fire service currently serving as Captain of Squad 18 in the Colony (TX) FD. Justyn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a fireman, i…

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Make Due: Episode 57 "Building Blocks of a Winning Team" with special guest, Ryan McCormick 1:29:19

10M ago1:29:19

1:29:19

Sean and Nick welcome special guest, Ryan McCormick to the show to talk about what it takes to build a winning team in the fire service. Ryan is Fire Chief of Alexander (AR) Fire-Rescue and the Collegeville Volunteer Fire Department. He's founder of the First In Fire Conference and brings 25 years of both career and volunteer experience to the show…

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Make Due: Episode 56 "Being a Student of the Game" with special guest, Danny Beauvais 1:12:52

10M ago1:12:52

1:12:52

This episode welcomes special guest, Danny Beauvais to the show to discuss what it truly means to be a student of our beloved craft. Danny is a fireman with the Mooresville (NC) Fire Department and founder of the Student of the Game fire podcast. Danny has been on the job for over two decades and brings a ton of knowledge, wisdom and passion to the…

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Make Due: Episode 55 "Suburban Firemanship" with special guest, Ryan Gates 2:06:53

11M ago2:06:53

2:06:53

Please join us as we welcome to the show Chief Ryan Gates of the Cayce (SC) Fire Department. Ryan is also co-founder of Soda City Training and the Truck Company Misfits podcast. This episode takes a close look at firefighting in suburbia. From strategies and tactics, to challenges faced, tips for being more effective, suburban truck culture, to com…

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Offline and Web Apps 53:11

11M ago53:11

53:11

In this episode of the Context Podcast, Martha Zink hosts Eric Luce and Aloe Torres Navarro to discuss innovative projects utilizing FileMaker and web applications. They discuss the challenges of offline data collection, the importance of authentication, and the use of webhooks for data synchronization. The conversation highlights the architecture …

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Make Due: Episode 54 (PART 1) "RIT: Not Just Another Checkbox" with special guest, Brandon Cory 1:22:19

11M ago1:22:19

1:22:19

This episode welcomes special guest, Brandon Cory to the show to talk all things RIT. Brandon is a firefighter/paramedic with the Marquette City (MI) Fire Department, authored a chapter in the book "30 Fires You Need to Know" with Chief Billy Goldfeder and Frank Leeb, is a published author with FireRescue1.com and is part of the Build Your Culture …

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Make Due: Episode 54 (PART 2) "RIT: Not Just Another Checkbox" with special guest, Brandon Cory 1:28:44

11M ago1:28:44

1:28:44

Part 2 of Episode 54 continues with special guest, Brandon Cory. Part 2 takes a hard look at the world of RIT. We discuss everything from the history of RIT and its evolution, data and how it impacts our decision making on scene, proactive RIT functions to the philosophy of rapid intervention, RIT realities, deployment and finally realistic RIT tra…

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Make Due: Episode 53 "Recruitment, Retention and Risk" with special guest, Scott Thompson 2:32:33

12M ago2:32:33

2:32:33

"From the top ropes!" Sean and Nick welcome special guest, Chief Scott Thompson to the show to discuss some of the hottest issues facing today's fire service. Chief Thompson is currently the Fire Chief of the Colony (TX) FD, is author of the book "The Functional Fire Company" and was keynote speaker at FDIC 2024. This no-holds-bar, haymaker of an e…

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Make Due: Episode 52 "Adapt and Act" with special guest, Jason Hoevelmann 2:06:40

12M ago2:06:40

2:06:40

Join Sean and Nick as we welcome special guest, Jason Hoevelmann to the show. Jason is the Fire Chief of the Florissant Valley (MO) Fire Protection District, is author of the Fire Engineering book "The New Company Officer", was keynote speaker at FDIC 2024, sits on the FDIC advisory board, and is owner/operator of enginehousetraining.com. In this j…

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Make Due: Episode 51 "Rural Fireground Considerations" with special guest, Bill Adkins. 2:00:23

1y ago2:00:23

2:00:23

This episode takes a look at the ins and outs of rural fireground operations as we welcome to the show former Navy vet, Loveland-Symmes (OH) FD Captain, and Fayetteville FD Asst. Chief Bill Adkins to the show. Bill is also heavily involved as an author and featured contributor at Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment magazine where he has dozens o…

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Make Due: Episode 50 "Passion in Leading" with special guest, Dave McGlynn 2:10:32

1y ago2:10:32

2:10:32

We welcome Chief Dave McGlynn back to the show to discuss all things leadership related. With all the emphasis on leadership these days, there are seldom discussions had on the dark side of leadership: the sacrifice, loneliness, conflict and stressors that come with being in these roles and positions. We tend to focus on the feel-good parts of lead…

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Make Due: Episode 49 "Operational Excellence" with special guest, BJ Breecher 2:22:12

1y ago2:22:12

2:22:12

This episode pulls no punches as we welcome special guest and fellow Midwesterner, BJ Breecher to the show. BJ is known for his love for the job, commitment to excellence and a passion for learning and sharing knowledge with others. If you're looking to improve your operational effectiveness, BJ absolutely lays the framework for success in this epi…

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Make Due: Episode 48 "Build Your Culture Unplugged" with special guest, Pablo Gener 2:11:35

1y ago2:11:35

2:11:35

Episode 48 is coming in swinging with our special guest, Build Your Culture Co-Founder and Jacksonville (FL) Fire-Rescue fireman, Pablo Gener. This episode takes a hard look at all things culture related and its impact on our fire departments, firehouses and personal morale. If you want a warm, fuzzy, feel-good discussion, you're in the wrong place…

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Make Due: Episode 47 "Drilling for Function" with special guest, Aaron Fields 1:56:41

1y ago1:56:41

1:56:41

Season 4 continues with this gnarly 2-hour deep dive into the mind of special guest, Aaron Fields. This episode examines the origins and mindset behind the renowned Nozzle Forward engine class and "Drilling for Function". Buckle your seat belt. Aaron straight up drops some serious knowledge and gets to the root of instructional philosophy and disci…

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Make Due: Episode 46 "Suburban Fire Tactics" with special guest, Jim Silvernail 1:25:16

1+ y ago1:25:16

1:25:16

Season 4 kicks off with a haymaker of an episode! Jim Silvernail is Fire Chief of the Kirkwood (MO) FD, is an FDIC advisory board member and author of the book, Suburban Fire Tactics. Listen in as the chief holds court on suburban fire tactics, challenges facing the suburban fire service, tips for maximizing your personnel and finally the mindset n…

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Claris Engage 2024 47:59

1+ y ago47:59

47:59

Get ready for another exciting episode of The Context Podcast, featuring Andrew LeCates from Claris. In this episode, Andrew joins Proof+Geist’s Martha Zink, Ernest Koe, and Todd Geist to talk all things Claris Engage 2024, a Claris developer conference set to take place February 6-8 in Austin, Texas. We discuss how excited we are for Claris Engage…

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Make Due: Episode 45 -Talking BALANCE" with special guest, Jeremy Mathis 2:01:42

1+ y ago2:01:42

2:01:42

The crew welcomes Captain Jeremy Mathis of the Covington (GA) FD and member of the FAST Rescue Solutions to the show to talk about one of the most important concepts in not only the fire service, but also in life: BALANCE. The crew dives into keys to living a balanced life, the work/life balance as well as balance in the firehouse. We also discuss …

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Make Due: Episode 44 "Do you have what it takes?" with special guest, Dave Mcglynn 1:54:28

2y ago1:54:28

1:54:28

Chief Dave McGlynn of the Letterkenny (PA) FD and owner of Passion in Leading LLC joins the show to discuss all things leadership and training! Do you have what it takes to elevate your leadership? Do you have what it takes to take your department's training to the next level? This episode will challenge you to BE more passionate, effective and res…

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Make Due: Episode 43 "Talking Tactics, Fire Dynamics and Research" with special guest, Sean Gray 2:23:05

2y ago2:23:05

2:23:05

Nick welcomes Cobb County (GA) Capt. and UL FSRI technical panel member, Sean Gray to the show to take a 2-hour deep dive into some of the amazing research being conducted by the UL FSRI. Sean shares his insights into the research, holds court on the topic of fire dynamics and how it relates to the modern fireground, and shares his tactical experie…

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Make Due: Episode 42 "Talking Standards, Fitness, Training and Implementing Change" with special guest, Dennis Reilly 2:04:55

2y ago2:04:55

2:04:55

Sean and Nick welcome special guest, Fire Chief (ret.) and owner of First Line Fire Service Training LLC, Dennis Reilly! The chief gives us some great insight in regard to the standards we hold. This is a deep dive examining personal, cultural, professional, and organizational standards and expectations. The conversation also reviews physical fitne…

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Make Due: Episode 41 "Why We Are Here" with special guest, JD Ducharme 1:42:44

2y ago1:42:44

1:42:44

Nick welcomes good friend and fellow hard-charger JD Ducharme to the show to discuss WHY we are here. They dive headfirst into mission mindset, building a culture of excellence, training and preparation, and risk management/aversion in the fire service. If you're looking for a feel good, pat on the back kind of show, this isn't the episode for you.…

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Make Due: Episode 40 "Engine Ops, Training and Leadership" with special guest, Zach Bruhn 2:05:21

2y ago2:05:21

2:05:21

Sean and Nick welcome Zach Bruhn to the show to discuss engine ops, training and leadership! Zach is a Major with the Oklahoma City FD, is and instructor at Oklahoma State University, and owns Precision Fire Service Consulting. He gives us the skinny on engine ops OKC style including an examination of how they have perfected the use of the Metro Lo…

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Update on Claris’ Roadmap 48:19

2y ago48:19

48:19

Featuring: Andrew Lecates, Chief Product Owner for Claris FileMaker Todd Geist Ernest Koe Corn Walker Description: Get ready for a special new episode of The Context Podcast! Join us as we sit down with our special guest, Andrew Lecates, Chief Product Owner for Claris FileMaker. In this episode, we discuss Claris's strategic shift towards a refocus…

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Make Due: Episode 39 "Talking Grabs" with special guest, Grant Schwalbe 1:47:52

2y ago1:47:52

1:47:52

Nick and Sean welcome Estero (FL) Fire Rescue Division Chief of Operations and Training, Grant Schwalbe to the show to talk grabs. This fast-paced, action-packed episode takes a look at search and rescue best practices for both searching and removing fire victims. We also discuss some of the excellent programs Grant is part of including When Things…

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Make Due: Episode 38 "Courage Under Fire" with special guest, Steve Prziborowski 2:22:32

2y ago2:22:32

2:22:32

Join Nick and Sean with our friend and guest, Dep. Chief (ret.) Steve Prziborowski of the Santa Clara (CA) County Fire Department. The crew unpacks some practical tools in this banger of an episode talking all things leadership! From new members to company officers to chief officers of all ranks, this episode hits on the needed traits, skills and t…

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Chris Rogers of TourPro 1:04:41

2y ago1:04:41

1:04:41

Featuring: Martha Zink Todd Geist Chris Rogers Description: In this episode of The Context Podcast, Martha Zink and Todd Geist from Proof+Geist sit down with a special guest, Chris Rogers, the mastermind behind TourPro—a revolutionary software shaking up the dance event management scene. In this episode, Chris takes us on a journey through his rema…

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Make Due: Episode 37 "The Search Reformation" with special guest, Dustin Martinez 2:21:27

2y ago2:21:27

2:21:27

This is the episode you've been searching for (see what I did there). Seriously though. Dustin Martinez of Cobb County (GA) FD and Reformation Training absolutely lays down the gauntlet when it comes to search and rescue in this full-throttle, tactics heavy episode. This is blue-collar, firehouse table style learning at its best! (Disclaimer: no pa…

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Make Due: Episode 36 "Talking Teaching Nuances, Psychological Barriers, and Conditioning" with special guest, Jake Barnes 2:02:10

2y ago2:02:10

2:02:10

2 hours of laughs, passion and knowledge with the one and only, Jake Barnes. Jake is the Battalion Chief of Training at the New Albany (IN) Fire Department, is an instructor with ISFSI having taught multiple times at the FDNY's "The Rock" and has instructed at numerous fire conferences around the country including FDIC. Jake is also the host of the…

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Make Due: Episode 35 "Discipline, Dedication, Drive and Doing More With Less" with special guest, Devin Craig. 1:41:25

2y ago1:41:25

1:41:25

Our good friend and all-around badass fireman, Devin Craig joins the show to spread the cure to the masses. Devin is a Captain in the FD in the Houston (TX) metro area and has been doing work for the past 20 years. He brings a level of passion, humor and tenacity that's evident from the moment you meet him. In this episode we discuss the Train or D…

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Make Due: Episode 34 "Talking Culture, Attitude, Leadership and Training" with special guest, Wyatt McCall 1:56:03

2y ago1:56:03

1:56:03

Sean and Nick welcome our good buddy and all-around badass fireman, Wyatt McCall to the show to dive into building performance-based culture, the importance of attitude, leadership at the company level and the criticality of having a training mindset on the job. This unfiltered, raw conversation is just what the doctor ordered to get your batteries…

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The Impact of AI on FileMaker 1:20:06

2y ago1:20:06

1:20:06

Featuring: Todd Geist Cris Ippolite Description: In this episode of The Context Podcast, join Proof+Geist CTO, Todd Geist and Cris Ippolite, founder of iSolutions, as they dive into the fascinating impacts that AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) are having on our industry in general, and the FileMaker community in particular. Cris was an early pro…

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Make Due: Episode 33 - "Forcible Entry Talk" with special guest, Robert (RJ) James 1:57:14

2y ago1:57:14

1:57:14

We welcome our good friend and lover of all things forcible entry, Robert (RJ) James to Episode 33 for a fast-paced, fun (ok...seriously it was a blast!) conversation on all things forcible entry. RJ is a Lieutenant with the Frederick County (MD) Fire-Rescue and a lead instructor with Capitol Fire Training. In this episode we discuss conventional, …

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Make Due: Episode 32- "FOOLin' Around" with special guest, Rick Guerra 1:57:49

2y ago1:57:49

1:57:49

Oshkosh (WI) FD fireman and Old-Fashioned FOOLS President Rick Guerra joins the show to share his journey from a young Milwaukee (WI) fireman to an Aurora (CO) jake, and then finally back home to Wisconsin again. We discuss lateral entry and how it has impacted the fire service. We chat about training, health and fitness. We dive into the FOOLS and…

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Unlocking Efficiency with SimpleQ 1:06:58

2y ago1:06:58

1:06:58

Welcome to this episode of The Context Podcast where we explore the incredible capabilities of SimpleQ! This week includes our host Martha Zink, along with Corn Walker, Todd Geist, and Mike Perley. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of SimpleQ, explaining its seamless task handling and compatibility with various systems. Discover the advantag…

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Make Due: Episode 31 -Challenges of being a New Company Officer, Training Mindset and "The Grab Factory" with special guest, Tyler Whitfield 1:57:39

2y ago1:57:39

1:57:39

We were stoked to welcome Lt. Tyler Whitfield of Clearwater (FL) Fire-Rescue to the show. The crew discuses several topics including the importance of building a the proper mindset towards training, challenges of being a new company officer, and finally a snapshot look at Tyler's new class "The Grab Factory" (not to be confused with "The Grab Lab" …

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Make Due: Episode 30- Talking Faith, Family, Fire and Fitness with John Spera 1:30:27

2+ y ago1:30:27

1:30:27

We were honored to have special guest John Spera of South Metro (CO) Fire Rescue and Fit to Fight Fire on the show to discuss his journey in the fire service. We dive into fitness and its importance and impact on the fire ground. We discussed mental and emotional health. We dive into the lateral entry hiring and the opportunities and challenges tha…

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Claris 2023 56:04

2+ y ago56:04

56:04

Featuring: Martha Zink Todd Geist Rick Kalman Description: In this episode of The Context Podcast, Martha Zink and Todd Geist talk to Rick Kalman from Claris about the launch of Claris FileMaker 2023. Together, they discuss the upcoming changes to the platform—including the switch to a year-based naming scheme, significant performance improvements,…

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Make Due: Episode 29 "Talking Training, Mentorship and Culture" with Jason "The Can Man" Liska 2:24:20

2+ y ago2:24:20

2:24:20

In this episode we welcome our good friend and mentor, Jason Liska to the show to discuss training and mentoring new and experienced members. We also dive into how culture influences our expectations, training and mentorship. Finally, the crew takes a look at recruitment and retention in the fire service. Make no mistake, this episode pulls no punc…